Cleaning compound for cleaning surfaces in a food processing environment

ABSTRACT

A cleaning compound for cleaning surfaces in a food processing environment includes at least one container, with each container including a peroxide and/or an alkaline reactant therein. The alkaline reactant is selected to raise the pH of the cleaning compound into the alkaline range when the peroxide and the alkaline reactant are mixed together. The cleaning compound may be a liquid or dry compound, which is applied to the surface to be cleaned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to cleaning compounds, and, moreparticularly, to cleaning compounds for cleaning surfaces in a foodprocessing environment.

2. Description of the Related Art

Numerous chemical compounds exhibit varying degrees of antimicrobial orbiocidal activity. Antimicrobial compositions are needed, among otherthings, to clean and disinfect food surfaces such as fruits andvegetables and to clean and disinfect hard-surfaces in the health careindustry, food and beverage industries and households.

Compositions having cleaning and sanitizing effectiveness are known,which include one or more surfactants and one or more antimicrobialagents, where the surfactant is effective at removal of soils,especially soils that contain fats and the antimicrobial agents such asethylene oxide, strong acids and compositions of aldehydes are known tohave varying degrees of biocidal activity. Limitations exist for many ofthese cleaning compositions in that the antimicrobial agents exhibittoxic, corrosive and irritant properties that limit the compositionsusefulness, especially in relation to the food and beverage industries.

Antimicrobial compositions including lower concentrations ofsurfactants, resulting in lower corrosion and odor, are also known. Forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 6,479,454 (Smith et al.), discloses anantimicrobial composition of hydrogen peroxide and amine oxide. Hydrogenperoxide is a known antimicrobial agent, and amine oxide is ahigh-foaming surfactant. By providing a low concentration mixture ofhydrogen peroxide and amine oxide, effective antimicrobial cleaning mayoccur.

Nonetheless, even with a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and amine oxide ata low concentration as disclosed by Smith et al. '454, the mixture stillhas a pH in the acid range and thus has higher than desired corrosiveeffects when applied to surfaces to be cleaned. It is conventionallybelieved that an antimicrobial compound must be in the acid range toeffectively act as an antimicrobial agent. In fact, in line withconventional wisdom, Smith et al. '454 discloses that carboxylic acidsmay be added to the mixture of hydrogen peroxide and amine oxide toimprove the antimicrobial effect. Although such cleaning compoundseffectively clean target surfaces, the corrosive properties associatedtherewith cause substantial operating expense to periodically replacefloor and wall surfaces, equipment, etc., damaged by the corrosion.

What is needed in the art is a cleaning compound, which is a hydrogenperoxide donor, which effectively cleans surfaces in a food processingenvironment without substantial corrosive effects.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a cleaning compound including a peroxideand an alkaline reactant with a pH in the alkaline range, whicheffectively cleans surfaces in a food processing environment withoutsubstantial corrosive effects.

The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a cleaning compound kitfor cleaning surfaces in a food processing environment. The cleaningcompound kit includes a first container with hydrogen peroxide therein,and a second container with an alkaline reactant therein. The alkalinereactant is selected to raise the pH of the cleaning compound into thealkaline range when a predetermined amount of the first container andthe second container are mixed together.

The invention comprises, in another form thereof, a cleaning compoundfor cleaning surfaces in a food processing environment. The cleaningcompound includes at least one container, with each container includinga peroxide and/or an alkaline reactant therein. The alkaline reactant isselected to raise the pH of the cleaning compound into the alkalinerange when the peroxide and the alkaline reactant are mixed together.

The invention comprises, in yet another form thereof, a method ofcleaning a surface in a food processing environment, including the stepsof: providing a cleaning compound consisting essentially of peroxide andan alkaline reactant, the alkaline reactant being selected to raise thepH of the cleaning compound into the alkaline range; and applying thecleaning compound to the surface.

An advantage of the present invention is that surfaces in a foodprocessing environment may be effectively cleaned without substantialcorrosive effects.

Another advantage is that the chemical compound may be applied as aliquid or dry compound.

Yet another advantage is that the chemical compound may be provided as apremix or as separate reactants.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An antimicrobial cleaning compound of the present invention is used forcleaning surfaces in a food processing environment. The cleaningcompound of the present invention provides a potent biocide with minimalcorrosive properties. The cleaning compound may be in the form of acleaning compound kit with separate reactants provided in separatecontainers, or may be in the form of a single premix with all activeingredients. Regardless whether the cleaning compound is provided as akit or a premix, the antimicrobial composition effectively reduces themicrobial population of surfaces in food processing facilities, such aswalls, floors and equipment. The cleaning compound generally includes aperoxide (peroxygen compound) and an alkaline reactant.

Cleaning Compound Kit Example

In one embodiment of the present invention, a cleaning compound kitincludes a first container with hydrogen peroxide therein, and a secondcontainer with an alkaline reactant therein. The alkaline reactant isselected to raise the pH of the cleaning compound into the alkalinerange when a predetermined amount of the first container and the secondcontainer are mixed together. When the hydrogen peroxide and thealkaline reactant are mixed together, the cleaning compound has a pH onthe alkaline side (i.e., between approximately 7 to 14 pH).

The hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is at a concentration of betweenapproximately 0.1 to 70%, preferably approximately 12%. The hydrogenperoxide also has a pH of between approximately 4.5 to 7, preferably 5.2pH. As is apparent, the hydrogen peroxide has a pH on the acid side andtherefore is corrosive to surfaces on which it is applied.

The alkaline reactant preferably is in the form or mixture ofcarbonates, phosphates, silicates, borates, hydroxides, etc. Thealkaline reactant includes one or more alkaline builders to raise the pHof the cleaning compound into the alkaline range. Specific examples ofalkaline builders, which may be included in the alkaline reactantinclude sodium carbonate and sodium hydroxide. The alkaline reactantpreferably has foaming characteristics to assist in removing soil orstains from the surfaces being cleaned. For example, the alkalinereactant may be in the form of a low-foaming, moderate-foaming orhigh-foaming alkaline cleaner.

The alkaline reactant is contained within the second container at aconcentration of between approximately 0.1 to 50%, preferably at aconcentration of between approximately 5 to 15%. The alkaline reactantalso has a pH of approximately 7 to 14, preferably a pH of betweenapproximately 10 to 13.

The first container and/or the second container can also contain othertypes of chemical additives, such as chelants, coupling agents,oxygen-stable dyes, and/or oxygen-stable surfactants. A chelant orchelants may be added to control or sequester hardness ions such ascalcium and magnesium. In this manner, both detergency and sanitationcapability can be enhanced. Coupling agents permit the non-separation ofan aqueous alkaline reactant in aqueous liquids.

An example of an oxygen-stable surfactant, which may be added is amineoxide. Amine oxide is a high-foaming surfactant. Various amine oxidesmay be utilized for their foaming and surfactant properties. Examples ofamine oxides include, but are not limited to: lauryl dimethylamine oxide(commonly available as Ammonyx LO from Stepan Company, or MACAT AO-12from Mason Chemical), alkyldimethylamine oxide, dialkylmethylamineoxide, alkyldialkoxylamine oxide, dialkylalkoxyamine oxide,dialkyletheramine oxide and dialkoxyetheramine oxide.

To further improve the foaming of the cleaning compound, diphenylsulfonate derivatives (such as sodium n-decyl diphenyloxide disulfonate)may be added to the cleaning compound as a foam booster to the amineoxides. Examples of commercially available diphenyl sulfonatederivatives are sold under the trade name “Dowfax 3B2” or “Dowfax 2A1”.These foam boosters increase the retention time of the cleaning compoundon the surfaces to be cleaned, and thereby further improve cleaning.Some other surfactants that are oxygen stable, are Shell ChemicalCompany's nonionic Neodol 25-7, 25-9, 23-6.5, 91-6 and 91-8, andStepan's BIO-TERGE PAS-8S.

Method of Application of Cleaning Compound Kit

In one example, the first container is in the form of a 55-gallon drumwith hydrogen peroxide having approximately a 12% concentration and a pHof approximately 5.2. The second container is in the form of a 55-gallondrum with a high-foaming, alkaline cleaner having a 14% concentrationand a pH of approximately 10.2. Depending on the type of surface to becleaned and soil present, a use dilution of two to eight ounces of thehydrogen peroxide and two to eight ounces of the alkaline reactant ismixed with each gallon of water. When the cleaning compound kit includeshydrogen peroxide, an alkaline reactant and amine oxide, the cleaningcompound is mixed at rate of one part amine oxide to between five (5) to99 parts hydrogen peroxide on an active weight basis, preferably at arate of one part amine oxide to approximately 9.68 parts hydrogenperoxide by weight. The mixture is then applied to the surface to becleaned in the food processing environment. For example, the mixture maybe foamed onto the surface to be cleaned.

Dry Premix Example

In another embodiment of the invention, a peroxide (rather than hydrogenperoxide) and the alkaline reactant are mixed together in a singlecontainer and applied as a dry premix to a surface to be cleaned. In oneexample, the dry cleaning compound is in the form of sodiumpercarbonate, also known as sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate. This drycleaning compound has the chemical formula Na₂CO₃*1.5 H₂O₂, plus sodiumcarbonate as a builder. The dry premix may include constituentsproviding low-foaming and high-foaming capabilities.

Method of Application of Dry Premix

In a dry premix form, the cleaning compound is applied to clean floorsand drains using a spreader. The dry premix may also be diluted withwater at a rate of four to eight ounces per gallon of water and appliedto the surfaces to be cleaned.

While this invention has been described as having a preferred design,the present invention can be further modified within the spirit andscope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended tocover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using itsgeneral principles. Further, this application is intended to cover suchdepartures from the present disclosure as come within known or customarypractice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fallwithin the limits of the appended claims.

1. A method of cleaning and reducing microbial populations on a surfacein a food processing environment, consisting the steps of: providing acleaner that consists of: a first container of hydrogen peroxide havinga corrosive acidic pH; and a second container of an alkaline componenthaving an alkaline pH and an alkaline builder; wherein either containerconsists of an amine oxide surfactant; combining the hydrogen peroxide,the alkaline component, the alkaline builder, and the amine oxidesurfactant to apply in the food processing environment, wherein thealkaline component and the alkaline builder raise the pH of the cleanerfrom the corrosive acidic pH to said alkaline pH; and applying thecleaner to at least one food processing machine, floor, wall or othersurface in a food processing environment to clean food soils and stainstherefrom, wherein the cleaner reduces microbial populations present onthe at least one food processing machine, floor, wall or said othersurface in a food processing environment.
 2. A method of reducingmicrobial populations on at least one surface in a food processingenvironment, consisting the steps of: providing a composition in dryform only; the composition consisting of a percarbonate and an alkalinebuilder; and reducing microbial populations on at least one surface in afood processing environment by applying the composition in dry form tothe at least one surface in the food processing environment.